The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-03
MosBY's WAR "REMINISCENCES.
vow Robertson's Disobedience Pre-
cipitated Gettysburg.

-, cavalry commander, whose dash and
aIc,, made his name so famous during tho
,ror and whose literary ability in recount
;,o. his exploits and experiences has since
Won 70 their recital such vivid interest, has
ss,t his war "reminiscences into book
por,r and the volume, of over 250
p o',, will be issued by MeSsls.
EHorga A Jones g. Co., of this city, on
Nav 3 AS the first complete account ever
nrin+ed of MoSby's dashlng career 1t viii be
eagerly read, and the following extracts,
iealing with the movements which precipl-
sotad fbe collision at Gettysburg--where
noither side had preneditated fghting-of
IN, two great armies of the Potomac and
Tor+arn Virginia cannot fail arc prove eS-
uecially interesting;
PN Stuart had now received his final instluc-
.;onu from Gen. Lee, authorizing him to
Move into Maryland, around the rear of the
enemy and between him and Washington.
Ep was likewise instructed to do them all
the damage he could on his way. With his
TRANSFORMATION destroyed and communica-
ZION froken. Hooker would be'seriously EN-
barrassed in pursuing Gen. Lee, or probably
forced to fail back for supplies, or to de-
fand the capital against this demon
stration. In the meantime, while
Hooker was thus delayed, the Con-
foderatss would have been levying
contributions on the farmers in Pennsylva-
MIA His original plan, which was bold i'll
conception and perfectly practical in execu-
tion was thwarted by an event which he
could not control. 1t was obvious now that
Hooker would not initiate any movement,
Int would confne himself to covering the
canital and observing his adversary. 1t
was equally plain that when the Confeder-
ata army made a move west of the Blue
Ridge Hooker would make corresponding
one in the east. 1t was, therefore, all i'm
nortant for the success of Stuart's movement
that the status quo of the two armies should
be preserved until he could get through
Hooker's army TO the river,
when it would be TOO late
for Hooker to take any step to defeat it.
The distance was not more than twenty-six
miles to the Potomac from the point where
he would enter Hooker's lines; and this
could be got over between sunrise and sun
down. as he intended to march in three par
allel columns. He knew the country well,
and the position of each corps; and it would
have been easy enough for him to flank
them. Before Pleasanton could have got
ready to follow the blazing meteor it would
have been out of sight. The three brigades
that were to accompany Stuart were quietly
withdrawn from Pleasantons front on the
evening of June "A and marched in a south
erly direction to their rendezvous at Sa-
lem. Those of Jones and Robertson were
put in the position they had held about Mid
dleburg and, of course, were charged with
the ordinary duty of cavalry on post of
observation. AS Gen. Stuart says in his re-
port, "Robertson's and Jones' brigades, I'M
der command of the former, were left in OBJ
servation of the enemy, on the usual front
about Middleburg), with full instructions
as to following of the enemy in case of
withdrawal, and joining our main army"
An order to cavalry officer to ''observe"
all enemy of course implies that he is to
report what he sees; otherwise there is no
use in his observing. Stuart left behind
A FORCE OF OVER 5000 CAVALRY,
which was amply sufficient for every pur-
pose. By day break, on the morning of the
25th, his column debouched through Glass
cocks Gap, in the Bull Run, and proceeded
toward Haymarket 1t seems that when
Stuart got there he found the roads on
which he intended to march that day oc-
cupied by Hancock'S corps that had broken
up camp that morning, and was moving to-
ward the Potomac. I could not find out
where Stuart was, nor he where l was So
retraced my steps and went
On to Pennsylvania through the Shenan-
doah valley, passing Gen. Robert
sons demand, that was quietly resting in
Ashby's and Smokers gaps, in the Blue
Ridge, after the enemy retired on the
10Th. PleaSanton that day had moved by
bis flank, across Gen. Robertson's front, to
Leesburg, to cover the crossing of Hooker's
army. Why he should have halted and re-
manned idle three days in the gaps of the
Blue Ridge in Virginia after both armies
had marched into Pennsylvania is a mys-
Terry that has never been satisfactorily ex-
planned. Ii there were any sound military
reasons for his staying there three days,
there were equally as sound ones for his not
leaving at all. His proper position was on
Ten. Lees flank, next to the enemy, in
order to protect his rear and keep him in
formed Of their movement.
HGen. Robertson had then in obedience
to Gen. Lees and Stuart's instructions,
promptly followed the the enemy along the
Dase OF South Mountain through Boonsboro,
che confederate cavalry might easily have
reached gettysburg in advance of the Fed
era troops. In this event, there would not
nave been the accidental collision of armies
zen Lee would not have fought defensive
patae, and Gettysburg might have been to
southern hearts something more than "a
glonous field of grief" Even as it was,
eVuafts movement around his rear had so
ph1used Gen. Meade that his army was more
Eattered than ours, and two of his CORDS in
Ne nrst days fight, were caught in dehcto
md crushed He was looking for Lee on tine
eusquehanna, when, in fact, he was concen-
rating on Gettysburg
Vn account OF Hancock's unexpected
movement Stuart had been compelled to
make wider circuit than he had intended,
ana dld not cross the Potomac until the
nlght OF the 9th, the day after Hooker got
over. He thence moved northerly toward
ne Susquehanna to put himself on Ewells
SauK' IN accordance with the instructions of
ven. Lee. But owing to
THE BEREAVEMENT OF HIS PLANS.
Dy the advance of the Union army. without
zen. Robertson having given him notice of
" Ewell had been recalled. and Stuart
va not Join the army until July 2, at Get
SSourg, when the battle was raging. But
Nooertsons command had not even then
oMe up. This movement of Stuart's
round the rear of Hooker's army has been
Sohdemned by Gen. Long, the military sec
iieary and biographer of Gen. Lee, as hav-
Jug been undertaken either from msap
plenehslon OF his instructions, or love of the
s Tiat OF bold raid" (which, of course, i'm
fIes dlsobedlence of orders; and Gen.
bbDhgstieet says that as he was leaving the
que pue Ridge he instructed Stuart to follow
~ I'M y, down the valley and cross the Potomac
~ ~ ohepherdstown, but that Stuart replied
iuaU ne mad discretionary powers from Gen.
Ice where to cross the Potomac.
g, nhen this charge was made against
S srt both the critics wore viewing his
aloVeinent in the light of the disaster to our
sLl nis at gettysburg, and il was more agree
aoie 10 put the blame of IL an n doad mar,